Our Mission

Based in Brattleboro, Vermont, we work locally and regionally throughout northern New England.

Our Vision

We envision a resilient community of communities that works toward the transformation of our economic, social, and political relationships. We are building a multi-issue social justice movement of rural LGBTQ people.

Our Values

Rural can be queer: Rural places are and should be welcoming homes to people of all genders, identities, and orientations. We believe in building, renewing, and supporting rural LGBTQ people, and in prioritizing those voices.

Intersections: GMC understands that LGBTQ people bring multiple identities to all they do, and honors all aspects of people’s whole selves.

Celebrating resistance: We inherit a tradition of radical people making radical change in their communities and the wider world, and strive to honor them through our work as part of that tradition.

Connections: We believe that all people and the environment have needs that must be met, and actively seek solidarity and collaborations with other organizations and individuals working toward justice.

Anti-racism: Understanding that we are limited by our history as a predominantly white-led organization, and working within the specific political context of Northern New England, GMC strives to be an anti-racist organization. We believe that white people need to work alongside people of color toward ending white supremacy.

Joy: Our work must be joyful, fun, and empowering.

Staff and Board

HB has spent nearly 20 years organizing in the LGBTQ community. In many and varied roles, HB has marched on the Maine State House as a queer high school student; organized with Camp Trans in northern Michigan; supported Queer youth as an adult facilitator in Portland, OR; and most recently, produced many community events as the co-founder of the HomoPromo Event Collective. They are also a Senior Fellow with the Environmental Leadership Program, an elected Town Meeting Representative from Brattleboro District Two, an alum of Marlboro College's Nonprofit Board Fellowship Program, Marlboro's Nonprofit Management Certificate program, and the Vermont Changemakers Table.

Aurelie Richards, Development Director

Aurelie has lived many lives and worn many hats. Her experiences range from dancing professionally in New York City to biodynamic farming in the Hudson Valley to living as a Zen monk. But what ties all of the seemingly disparate experiences together has consistently been working with organizations that are committed to individual healing and social renewal.

Rooted in her understanding that community resilience is built on connection and empowerment, she offers unique skills and perspective to the position. The work GMC does is aligned with Aurelie's lived experience as a rurally located queer woman of trans experience, bringing an element of personal excitement and insight to her work as well.